Fastening means



F. L DAVIS Nov. '21, 1939.

FASTENING MEANS Filed Feb. 2; 1957 INVENTOR FRANK L. DAVIS ATTO NEY.

- Patented Nov. 21, 1939- UNITED STATES PATENT ornce 50laims.

This invention relates to fastening means and has moreparticular reference to means for securing a'plurality of parts together.

The object of the invention is to afford a more generally simplified and eflicient fastening means.

Comprehensiveiy stated, the invention comprises a member having an expansible portion adapted-to be inserted in a suitable opening in one of two parts to beunited, the expansible portion locking against the side walls of the openli fore specifically stated, the invention comprises fastening means for riveting, anchoring, or similarly uniting a plurality of elements and comprises a hollow member having an expansible portion preferably cooperating with a second member adapted to be inserted in the hollow member to move the expansible portion outwardly into locking engagement with the side walls of an opening formed in one of the elements to be fastened and preferably maintain it in such position.

In the drawing accompanying this specification two embodiments of the invention are illustrated although it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely for the purpose of afiording a clear understanding of the underlying principles of the invention so that those skilled in the art may readily understand it without, however, limiting the invention to the specific details shown therein. v

In said drawing:

Fig.- 1 is a vertical section of the invention showing it in its initial fastening stage.

Fig. 2 is asection similar to Fig. 1 in an intermediate stage, and

Fig. 3 shows a section similar. to Fig. 1 with the invention in its final fastening stage Fig. 4 is a transverse end elevation of the sleeve.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification of the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modification of the invention.

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description and referring more particularly to Figs.

1 to 5, inclusive; a pair of lapped or otherwise po- I sitioned plates A and B have registering openings A and B respectively. The openings are preferably drilled although they may be formed in any other convenient manner. The opening B (if drilled) is formed as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 by stopping the drill short, whereas in Fig. 5 the drill is passed through the plate to form the opening as shown. A sleeve 0 is inserted in the registering openings A and B' and has its lower end split to form an expansible portion consisting of one or more tongues C. The inner face of one or more of'the tongues is tapered as at D for the purpose of permitting a member inserted in the sleeve to force the tongues outwardly as will 5 be hereinafter more fully described. The end of the sleeve opposite to the expansible portion has an annular flange E flaring upwardly at D to initially afford a clearance between the flange and plate to permit the plates to be drawn together on subsequent peening down of the flange as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In order to drive or force the expansible portion into locking engagement with the plate B so that it may plate A, a pin F is adapted to be inserted in the sleeve C and driven to a position where its lower .end strikes the inwardly tapered face D of the tongues C and forces the latter laterally into locking engagement with the side walls of the opening B. The pin F has a head G which seats itself in the counter-bore E" which is preferably provided in the sleeve C. The head G serves as a stop to arrest the depth to which the pin can be driven in order to the thin wall'remaining at the lower end of the opening B shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and to afford a smooth surface for the exposed face of the lower plate shown in Fig. 5. In order that the split ends plate B their outer faces are preferably knurled or roughened as at H in any convenient manner as shown in the drawing. After the pin F has been driven to the position shown in-Flg. 2,

with the roughened split' ends held in locking engagement against the side wall of opening '3', the sleeve flange E is peened down to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby drawing up the sleeve 0 and the plate B with which the sleeve is locked. In the modification shown the openings A and B register with each other in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. No attempt is made to stop the drill but the sleeve and pin are so proportioned as not to project beyond the exposed face of the lower wall In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the invention is shown as applied particularly to an anchoring or fastening device where a more or less permanent union is contemplated between a composition object or the like, and a memberto be supported by the object. To this end, an opening is formed in the object N in any convenient manner such as by drilling, molding, casting, or the like, and a sleeve K having an expansible portion be subsequently pulled against the 15 avoid any cracks in 25 may secure an effective hold on the 30 in Fig. 5, 40

comprising split ends K roughened on their outer face similar to the corresponding elements shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive for the purpose of locking the sleeve with the side walls of the opening in the object is inserted in the K may, and preferably does, have a threaded internal thread L adapted to be engaged by the external threads M of the rod M. In order that the split end may be held in locln'ng engagement with the side walls of the opening in the object, a plug P may be conveniently forced to the position shown in Fig. 6 either by screwing of the rod M into the opening; or the plug may be first driven home by an auxiliary tool and the rod M then screwed in position. The sleeve K may have, if desired, a flange K seated in a suitable recess formed in the object N so as to afford a smooth finish.

It is claimed:

1. A device of the character described combining a plurality of sheets of material having coaxial openings with fastening means comprising a member adapted to be inserted in said openings, means for locking said member against the inner wall of one of said openings, and means for drawing the said sheets together, the last named means comprising an element having a head of greater diameter than the opening in the adjacent sheet and projecting above the plane of the face of the last named sheet, said head-being tapered upwardly and outwardly, and when peened drawing together said sheets.

2. A device of the character described combining a plurality of sheets of material having coaxial openings with fastening means comprising a member including a shank and a tapered expansible portion and adapted to be inserted in said openings, the diameter of said expansible portion being initially less than the diameter of the opening surrounding the expansible portion, means for expanding said portion against the inner wall of the last named opening and means for drawing said sheets together, the last named means comprising a head of greater diameter than the opening in the adjacent sheet, at the opposite end of the shank from the expansible portion the head projecting above the plane of the face of the last named sheet, said head when peened drawing together said sheets.

3. A device of the character described combining a plurality of sheets of material having coaxial openings with fastening means comprisopening. The sleeve ing a member including a shank and an expansible portion and adapted to be inserted in said openings, the diameter of said expansible portion being initially less than the diameter of the opening surrounding the expansible portion. means for expanding said portion against the inner wall of the last named opening, and means for drawing said sheets together, the last named means comprising a head at the opposite end of the shank from the said expansible portion and projecting above the plane of the face of the adjacent sheet, said head being tapered upwardly and outwardly and being of greater diameter than the diameter of the opening of the adjacent sheet, and when peened drawing said sheets together.

4. A device of the character described combining a plurality of sheets of material having coaxial cylindrical openings with fastening means comprising a member including a hollow shank and a tapered expansible portion and adapted to be inserted into said openings, the diameter of said tapered expansible portion being initially less than the diameter of the opening surrounding the expansible portion, means for expanding said portion against the inner wall of the last named opening, and means for drawing said sheets together, the last named means comprising a head at the opposite end of the shank from said expansible portion and projecting above the plane of the face of the adjacent sheet, said head being tapered upwardly and outwardly and being of greater diameter than the diameter of the opening of the adjacent sheet, and when peened drawing together said sheets.

5. A device of the character described combining a plurality of sheets of material having coaxial openings with fastening means comprising a member including a shank and an expansible portion and adapted to be inserted in said openings, the diameter of said expansible portion being initially less than the diameter of the opening surrounding the expansible portion, means for expanding said portion against the inner wall of the last named opening and means for drawing said sheets together, the last named means comprising a head of greater diameter thanthe opening in the adjacent sheet, at the opposite end of the shank from the expansible portion, the head projecting above the plane of the face of the last named sheet.

FRANK LOUIS DAVIS. 

